Means for effecting the control of an alternating-current electric motor



A. SUNDHQ MEANS FOR EFFEGTING THE CONTROL OF AN ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRIC MOTOR.

APPLIOATIONTILED JUNE 27, 1907.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

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U ITED STATES PATENT onmon.

AUGUST SUNDH, 0F YONKEBS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNQR TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY OF JERSEY CIT Y, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY."

MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE CONTROL OF AN ALTERNATING-CURRENT ELECTRIC MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Feb. 22', 1910.

Application filed June 27, 1907. Serial No. 380,992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST SUNDH, a

citizen of the United States, residing in -electric motors, and one of its objects is the provision of simple and efficient means for effecting the control of an alternatlng current electric motor.

variable current by means of the conductors a, b and 0. The secondary winding of'this transformer is connected through the main line switch S by conductors l, 2 and 3 to three stationary contacts 12,- 13, and 14.

An electrically operated switch 8 comprises a magnet frame 9, winding 10 and laminated core 11 at one end of which is connected an insulating piece carrying contacts 12', 13' and 14. These contacts are directly beneath and are arranged to engage the stationary contacts 12, 13 and 14, respectively;

when in their ralsed position. The contacts '12, 13 and 14 are connected by conductors 1, 2 and 3 respectively to the stator terminals 4 of a three-phase alternating current motor One end of the motor shaft carries a. driving pulley P which isadapted to supply power to any desired device to be operated or driven by means of a belt B. The other end of the motor shaft is provided with collector rings 5, 6, and 7 which are connected in a well-known way to the motor winding of the motor. A delta-connected, starting resistance R is connected through the conductors 70, and 69 to the collector rings 5, 6 and 7, respectively and is normally included in the rotor circuit of the motor.

44, 45 and 46 are electrically operated relays and they control the cutting out of the resistance B. These relays aresimilar in construction and each comprises amagnet frame and solenoid and an electric switch. At the lower end of the solenoid cores are connected the contact plates 48, 51 and 54 which when lifted bridge or electrically connect the stationary contacts 47, 50 and 53 respectively directly above the contact plates. Set screws 49, 52 and may be used to adjust the position of each core with respect to its magnet winding.

O designates a controlling switch and comprises a lever 23 to which is connected an insulated contact 22 adapted to engage two stationary contact strips 20 and; 21. The switch lever 23 is pivoted at 31 and carries a bracket 25 which is pivoted at 24,also a rigid piece 34 provided with a hole through which a rod 33 passes freely. This rod carries a compression spring 32 and has a head 35 against which the spring presses.

' 73 is a set screw by means of which the tension of the spring 32 may be "regulated and 30 is a fixed stop for the lever 23';

A bar 29 carries a compression spring 26 which bears against the bracket 25 and a collar 27 fixed to the bar 29. A pin 28. is fastened to the bar 29 and is held against the switch lever 23 by the spring 26 when the parts are in the position shown.- One end of the bar is connected to a laminated core 19 centrally located in a solenoid'18, while the other end is connected by a rod 36 to the piston. 41 of the dashpot device D. The latter comprises a cylinder 37 closed at one end and containing the piston 41' having ports 42 which are normally closed by a disk 40 which is pressed against the piston by a spring 39 hearing against a collar 38 upon the rod 36. An air cook 43 is provided at the closed end of the cylinder 37 for the engages or electrically connects the contact strips 20 and 21. This operation closes a circuit through the winding of the electrically-operated switch 8, this circuit being from one terminal of the transformer secondary by the conductor 16, contacts 20, 22, and 21, conductor 17, magnet winding and by conductor of the middle terminal of the transformer. The magnet 8 is thereupon energized by single-phase current to lift its core 11 and connected contacts 12', 13' and.

14" until the latter engage the contacts 12, 13 and 14, respectively, thereby closing a circuit from the main line switch S to the stator winding of the motor through the wires 1, 2, 3 and 1, 2', 3, respectively. The stator windings now receive current and currents are induced in the rotor winding, being limited by the starting resistance 11. When the switch lever 23 is moved to the left, a short distance, the spring 26 is slightly compressed exerting a pressure upon the collar 27 tending to, move the bar 29 and its connected parts to the left, the bracket moving freely on the said bar. The latter, however, is retarded in its movement in a left hand direction by the dash pot D, for, as soon as the piston 41 moves outwardly a partial vacuum is formed behind the piston and the inflow of air to refill this vacuum is restricted by the air cook 43. At the same time that the sliding contacts 22 engage the contact strips 20 and 21, a circuit is closed through the solenoid 18 by the wire 16, contacts 20, 22 and 21, wire 17, solenoid 18, wire 63, and the windings of the relays 44, 45 and 46, and the wire 15 to the main line switch S. The core 19 at this time is substantially surrounded by the winding of the solenoid 18 and the impedance in this circuit is so great that only a very small current can flow, consequently the relays 44, 45 and 46 are not sufiiciently energized to lift their respective laminated cores. At this time the motor M is running at slow speed with all of the starting resist-- ance R in circuit with the rotor winding. If now the switch lever 23 is moved over to the left to its extreme position, the spring 26 is again compressed, moving the bar 29 slowly to its extreme position, this movemcnt being checked by the dashpot. As the core 19 slowly moves out of the solenoid 18 the impedance of the circuit which includes this solenoid is gradually lessened and more current will flow through the solenoid 1S and the relay magnets 44, 4:; and 46. This circuit gradually increases as the core 1-) moves out of the solenoid 18 until finally the relay 44 is operated. This short-circuits the sections 56 and 57 of the starting resistance R through the wires 66, 72 and 64, permitting a greater induced current totlow in the rotor winding, followed by an increase in the speed of the motor M. As the core 19 moves still farther to the left, the impedance of the. relay magnet circuit becomes still less followed by an increase of current. flow until finally the relay 45 operates to effect the lifting of the contact plate .31, thereby bridging the stationary contacts 50, and so short-circuiting the additional sections of starting resistance 58 and through the wires 67, T2 and This'is followed by a still further increase of motor speed until finally the third relay 46 operates and the entire starting resistance R is short-circuited, since the three contacts of the relay 46 are connected one to each col lector ring 5, 6 and 7 of the motor and the latter now runs at full normal speed with the rotor windings short-circuitcd upon themselves.

The relays are so arranged that they will always operate in some predetermined order or sequence. This object maybe attained in a number of different ways. I prefer, however, to effect the proper operation of the relays by varying the distance which the different relay cores extend into their respective windings, for, since the relay wimlings are all connected in series with each other, the current in each winding is the same, and the relay whose core is in the strongest field will operate first.

Inorder to stop the motor, the switch lever 23 is brought back to its initial position thus breaking the circuit to the winding of switch 8 and also the circuit to the relays 44, 45 and 46, causing all the parts to automatically return to their first or normal position, and the motor to come to rest, its circuit being interrupted at the contacts 12, 13, and 14. As the lever 23 is thus brought back to its initial position the bar 25) is positively moved with it. due to the lever engaging the pin 28. The dashpot D offers little or no resistance to the movement of the bar 29 in a right-hand direction since any compression of air in the dashpot cylinder moves the disk 40 against the action of the spring 39 thereby uncovering the ports 42 and allowing the confined air to readily pass out through these ports. As the bar 25) is carried back to its first position the core 19 is once more located substantially in the center of the solenoid 1.8 as shown, and the entire a 'iparatus is ready for any subsequent operation, with all the starting resistance again in circuit with the rotor winding of the motor. Should the switch lever 23 be slowly lnought back to starting position the impedance of the solenoid 1S and that of the circuit to the relay windings l. gradually increased followed by a gradual reduction in current flow until finally the relays become too weak to further maintain their cores in closed position, and the latter return to their original positions. The or der in which the relavs will become (leiin- '1 illustrate a three-phase alternating current motor adapted to transmit power by a belt to any desired apparatus, the control-' ling system is particularly adapted to an alternating current electric elevator apparatus. When used for such purpose the manually operated switch C would preferably be placed in the elevator car and also means would be provided to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor in order to efliect the lifting and lowering of the elevator car. Means for reversingthe direc-.

tion of rotation of airy electric motor. are

common and well known in the art. A val-- uable feature of the switch Cis, that, whilethe operator may start and accelerate the motor 'as slowly as-he desires, it is impossible for him to suddenly throw the full current strength onto the motor, since the operating switch lever is indirectly connected to the core of the impedance varying coil 18 and this coil determines the current fiow tothe accelerating relays and thus controls the rate at which the motor-starting resistance'is short-circuited and therefore the rate of "acceleration of the motor.

Should the operator throw the operating switch lever rapidly to its extreme position, the core of the impedance or choking coil 18 would have a slower movement limited by the dashpot D and since the latter may be adjusted so as to allow any desired rate of movement of its piston and connected core 19 by regulating the air cock 43, this rate when once'determined cannot be exceeded no matter how rapidly the operating switch is manipulated. I

Whilei have shown and described a motor-controlling system ted by conductors leading from a three-phase supply of alternating current, with slight modifications it is equally adapted to an alternating current supply of any phase or an intermittent or pulsating direct current,

A further advantage accomplished by my invention lies in the use of inductive apparatus for varying the current strength 1n the resistance-controlhng relays, for when .the current flow in a circuit is varied by means'ofregulating the impedance in said I responsive to such vvariations for circuit, there is substantially no waste of current which is always present where the usual method of cutting in or cutting out of circuit a series of resistances isem loyedi My invention does away with t e neccssity of usinga number of; sliding or other movable contact devices for varying the current flow in the accelerating relay circuit, and, while I have shown but three accelerating relays, I sometimes use more or less, depending on various conditions of load and smoothness of acceleration, as in passenger elevator service. I

I have described a simpleand practical form of my invention, and itis obvious that various changes in arrangements of the circuits, and in the mechanical construction and arrangements of parts might be ,made within the scope of the invention, and without departing tromthe spirit thereof.

What lclaim' and deslre .to secure by Let ters Patentofj the United States is 1. In a;-mo t;or-control system, the combinat-ion'witha motor, and a source of current supply, ofa: normal1y opencontrolling cir-' cuit, a {switch member movable into-position to close the circuit, means associated with said'switch member for varying the inductance of the'circuinand means responsive to such variations for controlling the speedot the motor.

2. Ina motor-control system,'the combination with'a motor and a sourceof current I supply, of a controlling circuit, a normally open switch in the circuit, an impedance coil in the circuit, means associated with the movable member of the switch for varying the impedance of said coil, and means control-' 3.1m a motor-control system, the combi-Q,

nation with a motor and a source of current supply, of a controlling circuit, spaced contacts in the circuit, an impedance coil in .the circuit, a movable member, means carried therebyior closing the circuit through the contacts after the initial movement of said member, means associated with said member for varying the impedance of the circuit "with a further movement of said member, and means responsive to such variation for controlling the speed of the motor.

4. In a motor-control system, the combination witha motor and a source of current supply, of a normally open controllingcircuit, an impedance coil in the circuit, a manually operable device, means associated with said deVicefor-closing the circuit after its initial movement, a magnetic core associated with said device and movable upon a further movement of said device to vary the impedance'of the circuit, and means re-' nation with a motor and a source of current supply, of a controlling circuit, a manuallyoperable device, means associated therewith for varying the impedance of the circuit, means for retarding the movement of the impedance-varying means, and means responsive to such variation for controlling the speed of the motor.

6. In a motor-control system, the combination with a motor and a source of current supply, of a controlling circuit, an impedance coil in the circuit, a magnetic core, a manually-operable device associated with the core'to move the core relatively to the coil, means for retarding the movement of the core when the manual device is moved rapidly, and means responsive to the variation of inductance in the circuit as the core is moved for controlling the speed of the motor.

7. In a motor-control system, the combination with a motor and'a source of current supply, of a controlling circuit, an impedance coil in the circuit, a magnetic core in the coil, a controlling lever, a yielding connection between the lever and core, a retarding device connected to the core, and means responsive to variations in the inductance of the circuit for controlling the speed of the motor.

8. In a motor-control system, the combination with a motor and a source of current supply, of a controlling circuit, an impedance coil in the circuit, a magnetic core.

movable in said coil to vary the inductance of the circuit, a dashpot connected to the core to retard its movement in one direction, a controlling lever, a coil spring connection between the lever and core, to permit a rapid movement of the lever followed by the retarded movement of the core, and means responsive to the variation of inductance in the circuit to control the speed of the motor.

9. In a motor-control system, the combination with a motor and a source 01 current supply, of a controlling circuit, spaced contacts in the circuit, an impedance coil in the circuit, a movable member having a magnetic core connected thereto at one end and movable with respect to the coil to vary the impedance of the circuit, a dashpot connected to the other end of the movable member, a manuallyoperable controlling lever, a yielding connection between the lever and said member, a contact carried by the lever and movable into position to bridge the spaced contacts upon the initial movement of the lever, and maintain a sliding connection during the remaining movement of the-lever, yielding means for re turning the lever to its initial position, and means responsive to variation in the impedance of the circuit for controlling the speed of the motor.

10. In a motor-control system, the combination with a motor and a source of current supply, of a controlling circuit, manually-operable means for varying the inductance of said circuit, automatic means for limiting the speed with which the inductance is decreased, and means operable upon such decrease in the inductance to increase the speed of the motor.

11. In. a motor-control system, the combination with a motor and a source of current supply, of a starting resistance, a controlling circuit, relays in said circuit for controlling the circuits through the starting resist-ance, an impedance coil in the controlling circuit, a manually-operable controlling lever, means associated with said lever for decreasing the impedance of said coil when the lever is moved in one direction, and increasing the impedance when the lever is moved in the opposite direction, and means for automatically retarding the speed with which the impedance is -decreased when the lever is moved rapidly in a direction to produce such decrease in speed, said retarding means being inoperative when the lever is moved in the opposite direction.

12. In a motor-control system, the combination with a motor and a source of alternating current supply, of a sectional starting resistance, a controlling circuit, controllin magnets in said circuit operative successlvely as the current increases to cut out the starting resistance, an impedance coil in the controlling circuit normally pre' venting suflicient How of current to operate the controlling magnets, a magnetic core in said coil, a manually operable lever, a yielding connection between the lever and core for moving the core to gradually reduce the impedance of the coil and permit the successive operation of the controlling magnets, and means for automatically retarding the movement of the core when the controlling lever is moved rapidly.

13. In a motor-control system, the combination with a source of current supply, a motor having a normally open field circuit, and a starting resistance, of a manually-operable controlling lever, means operated during the first part of the movement of said lever for closing the field circuit, a controlling circuit, controlling magnets in said circuit operative successively to control the starting resistance, and means associated with the lever for gradually reducing the impedance of the controlling circuit after the field circuit is closed.

14. In a motor-control system, the combination with a source of current supply, a motor having a normally open field circuit, and a starting resistance, of a controlling circuit, a manually-operable lever, means operated during the first part of the movementof said leven f or closing the field circuit, In testimony whereof, I have signed my' means assoclated wlth sald lever for varyname to thls speclficatlon 1n the presence of mg the lmpedance of the controllu'lg clrcult two snbscrlblng wltnesses.

upon a continued movement of the lever AUGUST SU NDH. after the field circuit is closed, and means Witnesses: responsive to said variation fox controlling vCHAS. M. NIssEN,

the starting resistance. NORMAN VEITCH. 

